The Salzburg actions are part of an Austrian protest: the reason for this is, among other things, that Minister of Education Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) continued to hold on to the repeated oral Matura after the warning strikes last week. State school spokesman Stijn Maas explains that he is also not ready to speak to the student representatives.

It is not yet known how many schools will be on strike on Wednesday. What is certain is that the demonstration in Salzburg’s old town will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Mozart Square. There were already student protests last week for easier school leaving exams – more on this in school strikes against the federal school leaving certificate plans (salzburg.ORF.at; January 18, 2022).

Support from the National Parents Association

Support for the demand of the student representatives also comes from the Salzburg State Parents’ Association: Last week, they advocated that the oral Matura should only be completed voluntarily this year due to the pandemic-related problems in teaching in the last two school years. In addition, the subject areas should be reduced by a third in the central high school diploma, according to the state parent association chairman Helmuth Schütz in an open letter.